James Gillray was born in London in the Chelsey district. His father was Scottish and a war veteran. The young Gillray learned the profession of letter engraver and was later accepted as a student at the Royal Academy, working as an engraver time and again to finance his studies and livelihood. From a very young age he was interested in caricature, he especially loved William Hogarth, a very famous caricaturist of the 18th century who was his great idol. Very soon Gillray also began to publish caricatures himself, albeit at first under a fictitious name. Only little by little did drawings with his name appear. For many contemporaries and even today James Gillrey is considered "the father of political and social caricature". Of course, he also lived in a time of great political and social upheavals and also in a time when caricature as an important means of expression for depicting events and their interpretation became fashionable and suitable for the masses. Gillrey's intellect, his wit, his sometimes pitch-black humour and his gift for observation, but also his great talent for drawing made his works unique.
In his private life he was not so successful and happy. He suffered from arthritis or gout in his hands at a younger age, which caused him great pain, and his vision was also increasingly poor. Disabled in his work, he became melancholy and increasingly addicted to alcohol. James Gillray did not start a family either, but he probably lived with his publisher Hannah Humphrey for many years and thought about marrying her from time to time. At least contemporaries ascribe a relationship to the two and it is a fact that Hannah Humphrey took care of Gillray after he wanted to take his own life by jumping out of a window in 1811. He survived, but was repeatedly confronted with severe depressions and psychoses. In 1815 the artist died at the age of only 58 years. Among collectors the caricatures of James Gillray are still very popular. Key prints such as "Fashionable Contrasts" and "Light Expelling Darkness" have already fetched prices of 10,000 to 20,000 US dollars at auctions.
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.jpg "The Plum Pudding in danger or State Epicures taking un Petit Souper, pub. 1805 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "A Voluptuary Under the Horrors of Digestion, July 2, 1792 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Nelson")
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.jpg "Destruction of the French Colossus by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Grand Coronation Procession of Napoleon the 1st Emperor of France, from the Church of Notre-Dame by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Fashionable Contrasts, or The Duchess")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-161499).jpg "Dido in Despair, published by Hannah Humphrey by James Gillray")
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.jpg "National Conveniences, 1769 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Fighting for the Dunghill or Jack Tar settling Buonaparte by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Germans Eating Sauerkraut by James Gillray")
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.jpg "John Bull Taking a Luncheon, or British Cooks, cramming Old Grumble-Gizzard with Bonne-Chere, published by Hannah Humphrey by James Gillray")
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.jpg "New Morality, or The Promised Installment of the High Priest of the Theophilanthropes by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Le Baiser a la Wirtembourg, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1797 by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-297654).jpg "Tales of Wonder, pub. H. Humphrey, London, 1802 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "A Bravura Air, Mandane, Published by Hannah Humphrey by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Kiss at Württemberg by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Scientific Researches! New Discoveries in Pneumatics! or An Experimental Lecture on the Powers of Air, Cartoon of a Lecture at the Royal Institution Demonstrating the Effects of Laughing Gas by James Gillray")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-174287).jpg "Very Slippy-Weather by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Maecenas, in Pursuit of the Fine Arts by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-295653).jpg "The Coalition, published by G. Humphrey in 1783 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Sir Richard Worse-than-Sly, Exposing his Wife")
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.jpg "Pizarro contemplating over the product of his new Peruvian Mine, 1799 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Rights of Man, or Tommy Paine, the little American Taylor, taking the Measure of the Crown for a new Pair of Revolution-Breeches, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1791 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Balance of Power or The Posterity of the Immortal Chatham, turns Posture Master by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Feast of Reason, & the Flow of Soul, - i.e.: - The Wits of the Age, Setting the Table in a Roar by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Republican Attack by James Gillray")
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.jpg "John Bull Taking a Luncheon: or British Cooks, Cramming Old Grumble-Gizzard with Good Cheer by James Gillray")
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.jpg "L")
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.jpg "Horrors of the Irish Union: Botheration of Poor Pat, or A Whisper across the Channel, published by Hannah Humphrey by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Weird Sisters; Ministers of Darkness; Minions of the Moon by James Gillray")
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.jpg "A peep at Christies; - or - tally-ho, and his Nimeny-pimmeney taking the morning lounge, pub. 1796 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Grand Coronation Procession of Napoleon, the 1st Emperor of France, from the Church of Notre-Dame, 2nd December 1804, published 1805 by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-392478).jpg "The Giant Factotum amusing himself by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Cow Pock or the Wonderful Effects of the New Inoculation by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Titianus Redivivus or the Seven Wise Men Consulting the New Venetian Oracle, a Scene in Academic Grove No.1 by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1713822).jpg "The Crown & Anchor - Libel, Burnt by the Public Hangman (from: Caricature, vol. 1) by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Harmony before Matrimony, published by Hannah Humphrey, 1805 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Charon")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-392765).jpg "A Peep into Lady W!!!!!ys Seraglio, pub. 1782 by James Gillray")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-41804).jpg "The Plum Pudding in Danger, 1805 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "“The Blood of the Murdered Crying for Vengeance”, the execution of Louis XVI (1754-93) by guillotine, published by Hannah Humphrey by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Improvement in Weights and Measures - or - Sir John Seeclear Discovering the Balance of the Flag (from: Caricature, vol. 1) by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Taking Physick - or - The News of Shooting the King of Sweden! by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Balance of Power, or The Posterity of the Immortal Chatham turned")
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.jpg "The York Reverence; or City Loyalty Amply Rewarded by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-391117).jpg "Venus a la Coquelle; or the Swansea Venus by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Tree of Liberty with the Devil Tempting John Bull by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Characters in High Life, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1795 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Advantages of Wearing Muslin Dresses! Dedicated to the Serious Attention of the Fashionable Ladies of Great Britain by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Gordon-Knot, or The Bonny Duchess Hunting the Bedford Bull, Published by Hannah Humphrey in 1797 by James Gillray")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-207534).jpg "A Pig in a Poke, Published by S.W. Fores in 1788 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Boney and Talley, The Corsican Carcase - Butcher")
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.jpg "The Three Mr Wiggins")
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.jpg "The Spanish Bull Fight, or The Corsican Matador in Danger, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1808 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Fashionable Mamma, or The Convenience of Modern Dress by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-248554).jpg "Irish Gratitude, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1782 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "A Peep at Christies, or Tally-ho, and His Nimeney-Pimmeney Taking the Morning Lounge by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The French Consular Triumvirate by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Election Troops bringing in their accounts to the Pay Table, 1788 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Union Club by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-276364).jpg "Windy Weather by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Tiddy-Doll the great French Gingerbread-Baker, drawing out a new Batch of Kings, 1806 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "John Bull & His Dog Faithful; - \"Among The Faithless, Faithful Only Found\" by James Gillray")
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.jpg "A Cockney and His Wife Going to Wycombe by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-278653).jpg "Wha Wants Me, Published by Hannah Humphrey in 1792 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Sans-culottes Feeding Europe with the Bread of Liberty, 1793 (Sans-culottes, feeding Europe with the Bread of Liberty) by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-391116).jpg "Matins at Downing College, Cambridge by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Reception of the Diplomatique & his Suite, at the Court of Pekin, 1792 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Cartoon Depicting Colonel Justly Watson with the Body of a Boot by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Oat Straw - Oat Straw by James Gillray")
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 mounting fr - (MeisterDrucke-270422).jpg "The High Flying Candidate (i.e Little Paul Goose) Mounting from a Blanket by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Nelson")
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.jpg "Metallic Tractors, 1801 by James Gillray")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-176596).jpg "Progress of the Toilet - The Wig, early 19th century by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-170770).jpg "Sad Sloppy Weather by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Fashionable - Jockeyship by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Monstrous Craws at a New Coalition Feast by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-392480).jpg "The Contrast or Things as they Are by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Mamlouk et Hussard Republicain, or General Result of Bonaparte")
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.jpg "The Hustings. Vox Populi Well have a Mug! A Mug! A Mug! by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Britannia")
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.jpg "The Wine Duty, or The Triumph of Bacchus and Silenus with John Bull")
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.jpg "Delicious Weather by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Accommodating Spouse; Tyrant")
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.jpg "A Kick at the Broad Bottoms, i.e. Emancipation of all the Talents by James Gillray")
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.jpg "British Tars Towing the Danish Fleet into Harbour, 1807 by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-392733).jpg "Gloria Mundi, or The Devil addressing the Sun, pub. 1782 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Giant Factotum Amusing Himself, Published by Hannah Humphrey in 1797 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Man of Feeling in Search of Indispensibles; a Scene at the Little French Milliners by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Pacific Entrance of Earl-Wolf into Blackhaven, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1792 by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-392123).jpg "A Witch upon a Mount")
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.jpg "Field Marshall Count Suwarrow-Rominskoy by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Titianus Redivivus by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Tentanda Via Est Qua Me Quoque Possim Tollere Humo by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Malagrida and Conspirators, Consulting the Ghost of Oliver Cromwell by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Graces in a High Wind, a Scene taken from Nature in Kensington Gardens by James Gillray")
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.jpg "The Introduction of the Pope to the Convocation at Oxford by the cardinal Broad-Bottom, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1809 by James Gillray")
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.jpg "Leaving off Powder, or A Frugal Family saving the Guinea, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1795 by James Gillray")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-284787).jpg "Jack a Both Sides, Published by William Humphrey by James Gillray")
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